Electroplating machine



April 19, 1932. H, J RlCHARDs ET AL 1,854,763

ELECTROPLA'IING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l M F 1 41 J632 4/ J/ 3,7 7

April 19, 1932. H. J. RICHARDS ET AL ELECTROPLATI NG MACH INE Filed May15, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet w -&

y .1 Richards am 6. f/z'mfazz April 1932- H. J. RICHARDS ET AL 1,854,753

ELECTROPLATING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet ."5

April 1932- HA .1. RICHARDS ET AL 1,854,763

ELECTROPLATING MACHINE Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE HEDLEY J. RICHARD-S AND WILLIAM E. HIN'ION, OF ST. LOUIS,MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TO LASALCO, INCL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ACORPORATION OF MISSOURI ELECTROPLATING MACHINE Application filed May 15,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electroplatingmachines, the objects of the invention being the provision of a machinehaving a revoluble tumbling Jarrel operatively supported in theelectrolyte container and adapted to be raised out of said containerwhereby the articles contained in said barrel can be readily andconveniently removed.

v Other objects of the invention are to provide a revoluble tumblingbarrel movable into and out of the electrolyte container and andprovided with electrical connections including switch blades, whichlatter are adapted to cooperate with stationary switch contacts wherebythe electrical circuit is automatically completed through said switchblade and said switch contacts when said barrel is disposed in saidcontainer and whereby the electrical circuit is automatically openedwhen said barrel is raised from said container.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a tumbling barrelrevolubly mounte by means of hollow trunnions, there being suitableelectrical connections extending 1nto said barrel through said trunnionsand carrying freely cathode elements so that the latter remain in closecontact with the articles disposed in said barrel.

' Still further objects of the invention are to provide an open toppedelectrolyte container and a revoluble mounted tumbling barrel, whichlatter issuspended above and movable into and out of'said container,said barrel being provided with switch blades electrically connectedwith. the cathode elements disposed in said barrel'and said containerbeing provided with switch contacts connected'to the electric circuitand adapted to be engaged by said switch blades when the barrel occupiesposition withins'aid contain er whereby saidcatliode elements areinterposed in the electric circuit, said switch ladesbeing disengageablefrom, said switch contacts to interrupt the electric circuit when saidbarrel is raised from said container.

Another object of the invention is. i so mount the cathode in thetumbling barrel that said cathode is freely suspended from 1930. SerialNo. 452,575.

the axis of rotation thereof and is at all times in close contact withthe articles contained in said barrel.

Still another object of the invention is to V provide a tumbling barrelrovided with hollow trunnions by means 0 which said barrel is revolublysupported and to extend the electrical connections through said trunnioninto said barrel and freely and detachably suspend from said connectionsa cathode element whereby said element remains in close contact with thearticles contained in the barrel during the rotation of the latter andwhereby said cathode element is readily detachable for cleaning andreplacement purposes.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinaftermore fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which 1 Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improvedelectroplating machine.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section taken on line 4.4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical cross section, partly broken away,taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1. I

Figure 6 is a transverse cross section trough the tumbling barrel. 4

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 77 of Figure 6.Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmental cross section of the tumbling barrel.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail cross section taken through the trunnionof the tumbling barrel.

FigurelO is an enlarged detail cross seciion taken on line 1010of.Figure 5.

Figure 11 is a vertical cross sectio'nfshowing a IUOdlfiGdIOIIll of myinvention.

The present invention relates to that type of electroplating machineswherein" a per fol-ate tumbling barrel is revolubly mounted and'isimmersed in the electrolyte contained in a suitable container. "Suitablepower driven means is located in the container and serves to support andactuate said barrel, whereby the articles contained in the barrel areconstantly agitated. Manually operable means is provided for loweringand raising said barrel intoand out of said container, and said barreland said container are provided with cooperating switch contacts wherebythe electrical circuit is automatically completed when the barrel is inposition in said container and said electrical circuit is opened whenthe barrel occu ies raised po sition. Thus the actuation o the barrel aswell as the electric energy is de endent upon the operative position ofsai barrel and neither can take place so long as the barrel is held inraised position.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 10 indicates an opentop container or tank, and 11 indicates a tumbling barrel which-isflexibly mounted by means of chains 12 so that, it can be movedrelatively to said tank. r

The container 10 which contains the electrolyte is substantiallybox-shaped in cross section and is open at the top so that 'the barrel11 can be lowered into and raised from said container.

The barrel 11 is polygonal in cross section and consists of perforatewalls 14 which are attached by tie rods 15 to the end members 16. Theseend members are of circular shape and have attached to their edges bysuitable fastening means 17 rings 18. Panels or walls 14 and ends 16areformed of insulation material, such as formica, in order to weservethe insulated relation between the arrel and the articles containedtherein. Rings 18 are formed of metal and the outer edges of said ringsare substantially V-shaped in cross section, as indicated at 18. As saidrings 18 and screws 17 are located exteriorly of the barrel and spaced asuitable distance from the walls thereof, they do not affect theinsulation of the articles contained in the barrel. Tie rods 15 areenclosed and insulated by insulation sleeves 19 which extend the fulllength between end members 16.

The walls 14 can be secured together in any suitable manner. Asillustrated herein certain of the walls are provided with flanges 14which overlap the edges of the adjacent walls and these flanges and theedges of such adjacent walls are provided with threaded openings inwhich are screw-seated screws 20, also formed of insulation material. ofthe walls, such as 14*, extends outwardly through an opening 20 formedmom of the end members 16, and is slidable outwardly so as to provideaccess to the barrel. The flanges 14 of the adjacent walls and auxillaryflanges 14 located in spaced relation with flanges 14 form the runwaysbetween which said slidable wall 14" operates.

Barrel 11 is supported by arms 21 located in spaced relation with theends of the barrel. The lower ends of arms 21 have secured theretosleeves 22 and revolubly mounted in each sleeve is a hollow trunnion 24,one end of which is screw-seated in threaded opening formed axially ineach end member 16. The outer end of trunnion 24 projects a suitabledistance beyond each sleeve 22 and has secured thereon a collar 25 whichprevents the disengagement of the sleeve and the trunnion. Arms 21extend radially a suitable distance from barrel 11 and the outer ends ofsaid arms are tied together by a rod 26 and nuts 27, as clearly shown inFigures 1 and 3. Projecting inwardly from each arm 21, substantiallyhalfway between the ends thereof, is a short extension 28, the outer endof which is provided with an opening 29 in which is secured a ring 30.The lower end of each chain 12 is secured to this ring and the upperends of said chains are secured to a shaft 31, by means of screws 32,which shaft is disposed horizontally a suitable distance above container10. The ends of this shaft are journaled in bearings 34 formed in theupper ends of uprights 35. Said uprights extend upwardly from the endsof container 10 and are secured to said ends, as indicated at 36. Oneend of shaft 31 has attached thereto a collar 37 and the other end ofsaid shaft has fixed thereto a sprocket wheel 38 over which operates asprocket chain 39. A small sprocket wheel 40 is arranged on one of thesupports 35 a suitable distance below sprocket wheel 38 and is engagedby sprocket chain 39. A handle 41 is fixed to said sprocket wheel andprovides for manual operation of said sprocket wheel whereby said shaft31 may be actuated to raise or lower said barrel.

A ratchet wheel 42 is conjoined to small sprocket wheel 40 andcooperating with said ratchet wheel is a pawl 44 pivotally mounted onone of the supports 35 at 45, whereby barrel 11 can be retained inraised position by means of said ratchet wheel 42 and pawlr44'.

When the barrel 11 occupies position in the container, it is operativelysupported therein by grooved wheels 46 which are arranged in pairsadjacent to each end-of the container and are adapted to receivetherebetween the.

V-shaped edges of rings 18. The wheels or rollers 46 of each pair arespaced a suitable distance from each'other as shown in Figure 5 in orderto support-therebetween the ends of barrel 11. These rollers are fixedto shafts 47 which are disposed longitudinally in the container and arejournaled near their ends.

and is suspended within the container by means of bars 51, the lowerends of which are secured to said frame and which bars extend upwardlyand have theirupper ends secured to angle irons 52, said anglesbeingattached to the upper edges of the side walls of the container and formreinforcing means therefor. The ends of the angles are secured to thetransverse members 54 which form the reinforcement for the upper edgesof the end walls of the container.

Thus it will 'be seen that the entire weight of the barrel and thesupports therefor is transmitted by .bars 51 to the reinforcing means 52and 54 and that the walls of the container are relieved of the strain.

Shafts 47 are power-driven, thereby causing, throughfrictionalengagement with rollers 46, rotationof barrel 11 and the consequentagitation of the plating load. The actuation of said shafts is effectedby means of sprocket wheels 55 secured to shafts 47 and a sprocket chain56 operating over said sprocket wheels and over a sprocket wheel 5 whichlatter is fixed to an actuating shaft 58 of a suitable reduction gearing(not shown).

This reduction gearing is enclosed in a housing 59 and is supported upona bracket 60 which is secured to and extends from one of the end wallsof container 10. The shaft 58 extends outwardly from said easing into ahousing 61 which latter is secured to and extends upwardly from thecontainer and encloses the sprocket wheel 57 and the upper portionofchain 56. Preferably an adjustable idler 62 is journaled at 64 andengages the chain 56 at a oint between sprocket wheel 57 and one of t esprocket wheels 56.

The reduction gearing is adapted to be operatively connected b a shaft58, either directly or by a belt drive, to a suitable motor (not shown).Thus by means of said sprocket wheel and chainconnections, shafts 47 aredriven at the desired speed and in the same direction such as indicatedby arrows in Figure 5. Wheels or rollers 46 being fixed to the shaftsare actuated therewith and through their friction engagement with themetal tires or rims 18 of the ends 16 of the tumbling barrel 11 causethe actuation of the latter and the consequent agitation of tumbling ofthe plating load contained in said barrel.

In order to assist in bringing the barrel in proper position in thecontainer and provide the necessary frictional contact between rollers46 and rims 18, the sides 46 forming the annular grooves on rollers 46are properly inclined so as to receive therebetween the inclined faces18* of rims 18. Also one side of each roller 46, preferably the outerside, is provided with an annular flange 46 which is inclined toward thegrooved portion of the roller, thereby assistin in centering the barto]in supporting position in the container.

This flange 46" extends a suitable distance outwardly so as to preventaccidental displacement of the barrel to either side of the roller 46.Any excessive movement of the barrel longitudinally in the containerbeyond the flan es 46 is prevented by the trunnion assemblies of thebarrel and the end walls of the container.

As stated before, the trunnions 24 are formed hollow. Extending througheach trunnion is a tubular member 65, preferably formed of suitableinsulation material such as formica. The inner end of each tubularmember 65 extends into the barrel past the innerend of the threaded endof trunnion 24 and has secured thereto a collar 66 by means of a setscrew 67. This collar prevents withdrawal of the tubular member. Theouter end of said tubuar member extends beyond the outer end of trunnion24 and is screw-seated into an insulation block 68 and communicates witha chamber 69. The opposite end of this chamber is closed by a plug 70which is screw-seated in position.

Extending through tubular member 65 is a rod 71 the inner end of whichprojects into the barrel a suitable distance beyond the inner end ofsaid tubular member 65. A cap 72 of insulation material is detachablysecured to the end of the projecting portion of rod 71. An arm 74 isfreely mounted on said projecting portion and hangsdownwardly therefrom.The distance between the inner end of tubular member 65 and cap 72 issubstantially greater than the width of the up- -per end of said arm sothat the latter is free to slide on rod 71 as shown in Figure 9.

The lower end of arm 74 is bifurcated as in-' dicated at 74 andpivotally mounted between said bifurcated portions, by means of a screw75, is the apertured end of a cathode element 76. The lower portion ofthis cathode element is disposedhorizontally at right angle to arm 74 asindicated at 76 and is of substantial length in order to permit saidcathode element to enter into close contact with the load or articlescontained in the barrel. Thus the cathode element is freely suspendedwithin the barrel and is free to oscillate about the axis of rotation.

The outer end of rod 71 extends into chamber 69 of block 68 and isprovided with a threaded opening into which is screw-seated the threadedend 77 of a connector 78. This connector extends upwardly and outwardlyfrom block 68 and is enclosed bya tubular insulation member 79, thelower end of which is threaded and screw-seated in block 68 as indicatedat 7 9. A member 80 of insulation material is arranged in chamber 69 toeach side of the apertured end of rod 71 and is provided with threadedopenings for the reception of the threaded end 77. Thus connector 78 androd 71 are rigidly secured togather and are enclosed, respectively, bytubular members 79 and 65.

During the operation of the barrel, trunnions 24 operate within bearings22 and revolve about the tubular member 65. Connector 78 and tubularmember 79 extend upwardly in spaced relation with arms 21 and terminatea suitable distance below the upper ends thereof as shown in Figure 3.The upper end of each connector 78 is connected to the inner portion ofa switch blade 81 which latter is fixed to the respective arm andinsulated therefrom. Switch blades 81 are arranged substantially atright angles to arms 21 and extend rearwardly and are adapted to engagestationary switch contacts 82. These contacts are arranged inpairs andeach pair is supported by a bracket 84 which is fixed to and insulatedfrom the rearwardly projecting flange 52 of container 10 as indicated at85. Each bracket 84 is provided with a depending extension 84" to whichare connected, by means of screws 85, the ends of a bus bar 86. Aterminal 87 of an electrical connection 88 is connected to said bus bar86 thereby completing the negative or cathode side of the electriccircuit.

A longitudinally disposed rod 89 is arranged to each side of thecontainer in spaced relation with the side walls thereof, as shown inFigure 4. These rods, which may be of I brass or copper, have their endsseated in the end walls of'the container and have one of their endsextending outwardly as indicated at 89. These ends are connectedtogether by a bus bar 90 and mounted on said bus bar is a terminal 91 ofthe ositive electric connection 92. This provides the positive or anodeside of the circuit. The anode elements 94 are suspended from rods 89,as indicated in dotted lines in Figures 2 and 4. These anode elementsare immersed in the electrolyte and the electrolyte completes thecircuit between the load or articles to be plated and said anodeelements.

The load being placed in the tumbling barrel is in electrical con tactwith the cathode elements located therein and as it is "tumbled in saidbarrel receives the electrical deposit.

When the barrel is raised from the container by the Windlass mechanism(chain 12 and shaft 31) the switch blades 81 are disengaged from theswitch contacts 82, thereby breaking the electric circuit anddisengaging said tumblin barrel and the material contained therein fromthe main lines so that said barrel can be safely manipulated in dumpingout the load.

The electrical connections of the barrel (bar 86 and switch members 81and 82) are located on the rear side of the apparatus, thereby leavingthe front side thereof free of all projections and electricalconnections, facilitating the loading and unloading operations.

Arm 74 is detachably mounted on rod 71 so that it and the element 76 canbe removed for stripping or cleaning purposes. Rod 71 is formed of metalbut cap 72 is made of nonconducting material, such as formica, andtherefore is not susceptible to the electric deposit action and is noteffected by the plating process so that no difiiculty will be experienced in detaching it from rod 71 when it is desired to remove arm74: Connector 78 and rod 71 which connect the cathode element 76 withthe electric circuit are enclosed and insulated throughout their entirelengths so that there is no danger of short-circuiting. Arm 74 danglesfreely from rod 71 and the cathode element 76 is always free to followthe tumbling action of the plating load or articles contained in thebarrel when the latter is actuated. The clearance provided on rod 71between the upper end of arm 74 and the adjacent surfaces permitssliding movement of said arm when necessary.

The Windlass mechanism is adapted to support the barrel in raisedposition by means of ratchet wheel 42 and pawl 44 and the raisedposition of the barrel may be adjusted as desired by means of said wheeland said pawl.

Arms 21 and connectors 78 and parts associated therewith are inclinedrearwardly from vertical planes and when barrel 11 is in restingposition'in container 10 and chains 12 are slackened, said arms 21 andconnectors 78 and associated parts are permitted to rock or gravitaterearwardly, thereby automatically causing switch blades 81 to enter intoengagement with contacts 82. When shaft 31 is actuated to wind chains 12thereupon the arms 21 are rocked forwardly by said chains immediatelybefore the raising operation of the barrel, thereby causingdisengagement of blades 81 from contacts 82 and the consequentdisengagement of the barrel from the electric circuit. Thus it will beobserved that the completion and opening of the energizing electriccircuit is automatic and in accordance with the disposition of thetumbling barrel.

The driving mechanism for the barrel may be in operation before theimmersion of the barrel in the container or it may be set in operationafter the barrel has been placed in position.

The traction chain 56 runs on four sprockets, including an idler 62which is adjustable. The barrel when lowered into container 10 dropsautomatically into proper position due to the V-shape formation of thetires or rims 18 and to the V-shaped grooves on rollers 46.

The friction drive arrangement disclosed in Figures 1 to 6 is especiallysuited for use wherein alkali solution is used as electrolyte.

When an acid solution is used, a gear drive, such as shown in Figure 11,is preferable. In this form a rim gear 95 is substituted for me- 26rollers and shafts and the chain drive.

tallic tires 18. The hubs 96 of the barrel 97 rest on suitable su ports98 disposed within the tank near eac end thereof. A small idler 99 isoperatively disposed above the cylinder or plating barrel, and mesheswith gear 95. A large 1dler 100 also operatively mounted above thebarrel meshes with idler 99 and is adapted to mesh, when the cylinderoccupies immersed position, with a gear 101. This gear is fixed to shaft102 which is an extension of the actuating shaft 58.

When the cylinder 97 is raised, idlers 99 and 100 are also raised andidler 100 is disengaged from gear 101 thereby disconnecting the drivingmechanism from the cylinder 97. This cylinder can be raised or loweredwhen the actuating gear 101 is in operation. This arrangement eliminatesthe use of Only a mm mum amount of metallic parts, namely, the rim gear97, is immersed in the electro- 'lyte and this gear can be especiallymade to render it acid resistant.

In our improved electroplating machine the barrel is movable in avertical plane so that a minimum space is required for the re ceptlon ofthe barrel in the electrolyte contamer. Thus the plating load containedin the barrel is brought in close proximity to the anode elementscontained in the container, thereby provlding economic construction andefiiclent operation.

As the cathode connections are admitted into the barrel through hollowtrunnions, there are no rigid connectors arranged on the exterlor of thebarrel and there are no exposed or movable connectors required. Thecathode elements are freely suspended with in the barrel and arepermitted longitudina ly as well as dangling or oscillatory movement sothat they can adapt themselves readily to the disposition of the platingload. They can be readily replaced and there are no other parts locatedwithin the barrel which are apt to become plated and retard the removalof the cathode elements. The driving mechanism is so arranged that thebarrel can be readily moved into and out of the container simply by theraising of the barrel, and the electrical connections are simultaneouslyconnected and disconnected by the movement of the barrel.

The construction of the tumbling barrel is such that the plating load isheld completely insulated from all'metal parts with the exception of thecathode elements. The peripheral walls of the barrel are perforated topermit the electrolyte to circulate freely therethrough.

While we have shown and described herein the preferred forms of ourelectroplating machine, it is obvious that various changes in theconstruction and arrangements of parts of our machine can be made andsubstituted for those herein shown.

We claim:

1. An electroplating machine comprising an open top electrolytecontainer, a tumbling barrel provided with peripheral tracks, fiexlbleconnections for supporting said barrel in raised position out of saidcontainer and operable to lower said barrel thereinto, and motor-drivenmechanism in said container for engaging and revolubly supporting saidbarrel when in lowered position within said container.

2. An electroplating machine comprising in combination an open topcontainer, a revoluble tumbling barrel provided with peripheral tracks,an arm arranged adjacent to each end of said barrel and having its lowerend revolubly attached thereto, a windlass mechanism connected to theupper ends of said arms whereby said barrel can be raised and loweredrelatively to said container, and means in said container for engagingsaid tracks and revolubly and operatively sup porting said barreltherein.

3. An electroplating machine comprising in combination an open topelectrolyte container, a revoluble tumbling barrel provided with axiallyextending trunnions and annularly disposed tracks, a pair of arms havingtheir lower ends revolubly engaging said trunnions, a Windlass mechanism0 eratively connected to the upper ends of sai arms for raising saidbarrel and supporting it in raised position, rollers revolubly mountedin said container for engaging said tracks and revolubly sup orting saidbarrel in lowered position witl iin said container, and means fordriving said rollers and actuating said barrel.

4. An electroplating machine comprising an open top electrolytecontainer, a revoluble tumbling barrel provided with annular tracks andadapted to receive the plating load, means in said container forengaging said tracks and revolubly supporting said barrel therein,Windlass mechanism for raising said barrel out of said container andsupporting it in raised position, and motordrlven means located withinsaid container and adapted to be engaged by said annular tracks andrevolubly support said barrel within said container.

5. An electroplating machine comprising in combination an open topelectrolyte container, a revoluble tumbling barrel adapted to receivethe plating load, said barrel being provided at each end with a hollowtrunnion and having its peripheral wall provided with annular tra'cks,an arm arranged adjacent to each end of said barrel and having its lowerend engaging the corresponding trunnion and revolubly supporting saidbarrel, means in said container and including rollers for engaging saidannular tracks and revolubly sup orting said barrel in sald container,winslass means connected to the upper ends of said arms for raising saidbarrel out of said container and supporting it in raised position,motor-driven means for actuating said supporting means stationary,switch contacts on said container and connected to one side of the mainlines, a switch blade carried by each arm and adapted to engage saidswitch contacts when said barrel occupies lowered position and adaptedto become isengaged from said switch contacts when said barrel occupiesraised osition, electrodes connected to said bla es, and electrodessupported Within said container and immersed in said electrolyte inspaced relation with said container and electrically connected to theother side of the main lines.

6. An electroplating machine comprising in combination an open topelectrolyte container, a revoluble tumbling barrel having hollowtrunnions, and provided with annular tracks, an arm arranged adjacent toeach end of said barrel and having its lower end in revoluble supportingenga ement with said trunnion, means revolu ly mounted wit hin saidcontainer and adapted to be engaged by said annular tracks for revolublysupporting said barrel therein, mechanism connected to said arms forraising and supporting said barrel above said container, a switch bladearranged on each arm, connectors extending into said barrel through saidhollow trunnion,a cathode element loosely suspended from the inwardlyprojecting end of each connector, an electric connection from eachswitch blade to the respective connector, stationary switch contactsarranged on one side of said container and adapted to be engaged by saidswitch blades when said barrel occupies position within said container,horizontally disposed rodsarranged in said container in spaced relationwith said barrel, anode elements suspended within said container fromsaid rods, electrical connections connecting said rods to the positivepole of a generator, and electrical connections connecting said switchcontacts to the negative side of a generator.

7 An electroplating machine comprising in combination anelectrolyte-container, revoluble supports arranged therein, a revolublebarrel having annular tracks adapted to rest upon said revolublesupports whereby said barrel receives revoluble motion when in saidcontainer, a Windlass mechanism for 55 supporting said barrel in raisedposition and operable to lower said barrel into said container to berevolubly supported by said supports, motor driven means for actuatingsaid arrel when in lowered position, rods disposed in said container inspaced relation with said barrel for supportin suitable anode elements,said rods being e ectrically connected to one side of an electriccircuit, connectors dis osed coaxially with said bar- 65 rel and extening thereinto, a cathode ele- Windlass ment freely suspended from theinner end of each connector and adapted to be engaged by the platingload arranged within said barrel, stationary switch contacts connectedto the other side of the electric circuit, and 7 switch blades connectedto said connectors and adapted to engage said switch contacts when thebarrel occupies lowered position, thereby completing the energizingcircuit and adapted to be automatically disengaged from said switchblades when said barrel is raised from said container, therebydisconnecting said barrel from the electric circuit.

8. An electroplating machine comprising in combination an electrolytecontainer, sup ports arranged therein and including revoluble rollers, arevoluble barrel having peripheral tracks adapted to rest upon and beengaged by said rollers thereby receiving therefrom revoluble motion,windless mechanism for supporting said barrel in raised position andoperable to lower said barrel into said container, motor driven meansfor actuating said supports, anode rods arranged longitudinally in saidcontainer in spaced relation with said barrel, and electricallyconnected to the positive pole of an electric circuit, anode elementssuspended from said rods and immersed in the electrolyte, cathode rodsextending axially into the barrel and adapted to be operativelyconnected to the negative pole of a circuit when said barrel occupieslowered position and to be disconnected therefrom when said barreloccupies raised position, and cathode elements pivotally suspended fromthe inner ends of said cathode rods and slidably arranged thereon so asto be movable longitudinally as well as pivotally of the axis ofrotation of said barrel.

9. In an electroplating machine, a revoluble tumbling barrel adapted toreceive a plating load, an open-ended hollow trunnion arranged axiallyin each end wall of said barrel, a supporting arm having its lower endformed tubular for revolubly supporting each trunnion, an insulationsleeve disposed within each trunnion and extending beyond the endsthereof, a cathode connector extending through each insulation sleeveand having its 115 inner end extended a suitable distance beyond saidinsulation sleeve, a cathode element pivotally suspended from said innerend and movable longitudinally thereof, a connector connected to theouter end of said cathode 120 connector, and insulation means includinga hollow insulation block engaging the outer end of said insulationsleeve and enclosing the interconnected ends of said cathode connectorand said electrical connection.

10. In an electroplating machine, the combination with a tumblingbarrel, of a connector rod extending axially into said barrel throughone of the walls thereof, and a cathode element pivotally suspended insaid 133 barrel from the inner end of said rod and having its lower endbent at right angle and extending longitudinally parallel with the axisof said barrel.

11. In an electroplating machine of the class described, the combinationwith a tumbling barrel, of an insulation sleeve extending axiallythrough each end wall of said barrel, a connector rod arranged in saidsleeve and having its inner end extending a suitable distance into saidbarrel beyond the inner end of said insulation sleeve, an arm pivotallysuspended from said inner end of said rod and movable longitudinallythereof, a ca detachably secured to the extreme end of sai rod toprevent displacement of said arm, and a cathode element attached to thefree end of said arm and having its extreme portion disposed parallelwith the axis of said barrel.

12. In an electroplating machine of the class described, the combinationwith an open-top container, of a plurality of rollers arranged in spacedrelation, each of said rollers being provided with a V-shaped peripheralgroove, a tumbling barrel provided with annular tracks V-shape in crosssection and resting in the grooves of the respective rollers, and meansfor driving said rollers and imparting revoluble motion to said barrel.

13. In an electroplating machine of the class described, the combinationwith an open top container, of supports revolubly arranged therein andincluding a pair of horizontally disposed spaced shafts and a pluralityof rollers fixed on said shafts, a tumbling barrel provided withperipheral tracks adapted to be revolubly supported by said rollerswithin said container, means for driving said shafts and impartinrevoluble motion to said barrel, and win lass mechanism for raising saidbarrel from said container and disconnecting the driving connectionthereof with said rollers.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures this "3rd day ofMay, 1930.

HEDLEY J. RICHARDS. WILLIAM E. HINTON.

